Based on Laura’s own words…
I knew I satisfied the citizenship by decent requirements, and although I had acquired some of the documents before reaching out for support, the challenge was obtaining an appointment with the consulate in San Francisco.
Determining if I qualified was a lengthy process, and after approximately six years of work I knew I needed help. My first attempt with a company was not fruitful, then I found ICA online.
It was following a consultation with Marco Permunian, founder and principal attorney at ICA, that he confirmed that I met the requirements for citizenship by decent.
My case was complicated given that my Italian grandfather was born in Brazil. This meant locating many documents from multiple countries, such as a birth certificate, and an American naturalization document which stated his last county of residence was Canada. It then had to be established that he did not become a Canadian citizen, and this alone took the Canadian authorities one and half years to verify! We also had to locate for my Italian-born great-grandfather’s birth records. A search going back approximately 150 years!
I was assigned the amazing Martina Ottoboni to work with. She and I worked together to collate the information, and then the translation and apostles of all the documents.
There were times I got nowhere with some agencies (mostly in America), and Martina was able to achieve the necessary outcome. Martina was thorough, patient, kind and organized. She supported me in completing applications, and making document requests, often all I had to do was sign the forms and mail them to the appropriate agency. This all served to make the process as straightforward as possible for me.
ICA successfully obtained my appointment with the consulate, and my interview was over the phone. My adult children were able to be on the call with me. Citizenship was granted to me, my two adult children and grandchildren, seven of us in total, nine months after that interview.
The delightful Chiara Quaglia was then assigned to assist me in my passport application, the birth registration in Italy, and A.I.R.E. registration. We all received our passports in 2024!
In terms of memorable moments, there were many nerve-racking (Martina always managed to ease my anxiety!), stressful, thrilling and happy moments along the way. Highlights included locating cousins in Italy and Brazil, which led to retrieving the documents needed.
Finally getting the appointment at the consulate was a huge relief. Many documents had different name spellings and birthdates, and Martina was always calm and reassuring when I worried about potential discrepancies. Martina was instrumental in the process. She often dealt directly with the relevant professionals, while always keeping me informed.
In the future, as I am nearing retirement and I would like to spend more time in Italy. I have been to Italy many times, and I have visited my cousins.
This is also an opportunity for the future generations in my family. Italian citizenship means my grandchildren now have the opportunity to live, travel and work in Italy and Europe.
In terms of my experience working with ICA, I am so happy I found ICA online. At first, I was tentative and unsure of using a company without knowing anything about them or having them referred to me. My decision to reach out was based solely on reviews. I have NEVER worked with a company like ICA. Their kindness, communication, responsiveness, integrity and efficiency are unparalleled. They always responded effectively, timely and without qualms.
I am incredibly grateful to ICA, Martina, Chiara and the entire team at ICA. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You successfully helped me achieve my dream of Italian citizenship for my entire family! GRAZIE MILLE!!
Laura has agreed to serve as a subject of this success story and has granted ICA the right to use her name and image.
